- The prestigious coeducational school for pupils aged 11 to 18 was founded in the early 15th century and is one of England’s oldest private boarding schools. Girls were accepted in the sixth form in 1985 and the school became coeducational in 1998.
- Students can access the University of Durham library, which is nearby in the city centre. The school’s buildings are often described as “Harry Potter-esque”. Geography GCSE pupils eagerly anticipate an annual field trip to the Spanish city of Barcelona.
- The school “greatly values the richness and diversity” its international student cohort brings with more than 100 pupils from 28 countries. Culturally important fixtures, such as Chinese New Year and Holi, are celebrated.
- In 2025 66.7 per cent of A-level grades achieved were A*-B with a 100 per cent pass rate.
- Former pupils, referred to as Old Dunelmians, include the comedian and actor Alexander Armstrong, the political strategist Dominic Cummings and the architect Anthony Salvin.
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